Friday, May 27, 2022

Bechukotai: The Deadly Repercussions of a Selfish Society

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Too often, I have found myself writing a blog post in the wake of yet another unfathomable mass shooting. If I go back and review what I...
Friday, May 6, 2022

Kedoshim: When The Rule Needs a Little More Love

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How you phrase something matters a lot. Changing your wording just a little bit can really shift the meaning and the outcome dramatically, a...
Friday, April 29, 2022

Acharei Mot: The Letter and the Spirit Square Off

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When you think about the performance of mitzvot, which would you say is more important, the action or the intention? Let’s imagine, say, tha...
Friday, April 8, 2022

Metzora (Shabbat Ha-Gadol): Plague vs. Plague vs. Plague

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At first, I couldn’t see any connection between this week’s Torah portion and the upcoming holiday of Pesach, which starts (gulp!) next Frid...
Friday, April 1, 2022

Tazria (Ha-Chodesh and Rosh Chodesh): Take Out the Babysitting; Keep the Gratitude

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We’ve ticked over into April. In general, that’s a very good thing, though it does also bring with it some anxiety - for us as Jews - becaus...
Friday, March 25, 2022

Shemini (Shabbat Parah): Magic Purity Potion (Read the Warning Label...)

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Recently, when we were celebrating the holiday of Purim, I talked to the congregation about the difference between a story being labeled a t...
Friday, March 18, 2022

Tzav: Smells Like a Fond Memory

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Now that we’ve passed the holiday of Purim, it feels like Passover - and spring - are right around the corner. Even though the weather has b...